Back gauge for squaring shears



Aug. 2, 19.38. R. L. BROWNLEE BACK GAUGE FOR SQUARING SHEARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1935 1938. R. L. BROWNLEE 9.

BACK GAUGE FOR SQUARIQNG SH'EARS Filed Sept. 23, 19:55 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J3 ie I Patented Aug. 2, 1938 UNITED STATES I 2,125,539,] 7 BACK GAUGE ron SQUARING sHEAns Robert L. Brownla-Chicago, Ill., assignor to Dreis a KrumpMfg. Company, Chicago, Ill.

7 Application September 23, 1935, Serial 'No. 41304 6 Claims.

My invention'relates to squaring shears, and more particularly to back gauges therefor, and my main object is to improve the conventional back gauge with a novel control which is "operable from the front of the shear.

A further object of the invention is to provide a balanced mechanism on bothends of the gauge, whereby to move the same uniformly and without strain. 4

A still further object of the invention is to design the novel gauge with a yieldable support, in order to make allowance for the pressure transmitted to the gauge by the shearing action.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the novel gauge that it may afford unlimited clearance for the work sheet in a 'forward direction. I

An additional object of the invention is to provide an adjustment control for the gauge which enables the same to be set to fine limits.

A significant object of the invention is to design the novel gauge with an angle adjusting mechanism for use when the work sheet is" to be cut on a bias.

An important object'of theinvention is to construct the same of few and simple parts and as a unit readily applicable to squaring shears of the standard types.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of-the invention may behad by reference-to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a plan section of .a portion of a squaring shear, showing the novel back gauge;

Fig. 2 is an enlargement of the end portions of Figure 1, partly broken away;

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation partly in section of a preferred hand control for the gauge;

Fig. 3a is an enlarged fragmental reproduction of a part shown in the right-hand lower portion of Figure 1; k I

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, and indicates the gauge setfor a square-cut;

Fig. 4a is a View similar to Figure-4, "showing the gauge set for a bias or oblique cut, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1;

. Fig. 5 is a vsection on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the'.line. 6'6 of Figure 4; and I L Fig. '7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Figure 4a.

In the application of aback gaugeto-the conventional squaring shear, it has long been the practice to adjust the depth' of the gauge --by going around. to the rear of the machine and operating a suitable mechanism to move the gauge accordingly. The check on the movement is secured by insertin a measuring stick or rule from the front each time an adjustment is made -01 from a scale fastened to the gauge. It will be realized. that this'flmethod of controlling and checking-the gauge is veryunhandy; also, it taxes-the patience of the operator and takes time which might otherwise be employed to better advantage. Further, where attempts have been made'to locate the control for the back gauge in a forward or handler position, it has been necessary to extend'the connections from the rear of the machine in a roundabout way to reach the frontal control site, making the construction complicated, cumbersome and inaccurate. In addition to the above considerations, various difiiculties and deficiencies have been contended with in backgauges of existing types, and it has therefore been my intention not only to provide a handy and direct control therefor, but also' to simplify and ease the action of the: gauge whereby to greatly improve its efiiciency.

In the application of the novel back gauge, specific'reference to the drawings indicates the bed of a conventionalfsquaring shear at ID, the front at H, the ram at l2,the blade at l3, and the-end wallsa-t HI and 14a.

The conventional back gauge for the machine is in the formof an angle bar 16 extending crosswise-between the; walls l4 and Ma and at a height substantially even with the 'bed l0. In order that the movement of the gauge may be uniform'from front to rear, and vice versa, I controlthe gauge bar [6' at its ends, providing companiongearings therefor. Thus, the latter originate with a hand wheel ll located outside the machine at the front and instrumental in rotating a horizontal shaft l8 journaled endwise in the walls l4 and [4a andmedially in a frontal bearing |"9, as indicated in Figure 1. On .the inner sides of' the walls l4 and Ma, the shaft l8 receives identical bevel gears 20 and 20a which are in mesh with frontal terminal bevel gears 2| and Mo carried by shafts 22 and 22a extending from front ;to rear along the inner sides of the walls and making connection with the ends of the back gauge I5 thr'oughparts presently to be described; It will be evident that, with the shafts 22 and 22a geared as shown and described, they will receive motion in the same direction and at the same rate from the operation of'the hand wheel 11, such motion being transmitted to the ends of the back gauge and resulting in the that the greater portions of the shafts occur -in, the openings of the latter, such portions being threaded to serve as feed screws 22b.

Each block receives in itsopening a carriage 24, the same being tightly fitted with'a bushing 241) which is internally threaded to serve as a traveling nut upon the relatedscrew 22b. In order that the block may serve as a guide for the travel of the carriage 24, the latter is made with an enlargement 240 on each side over the top edges of the block walls; also, abottom plate 24d underlies the bottom edges of the latter, such plate being secured to the carriage by bolts 24c.

Aboveeach block, the carriage 24 rises in the form of laterally spaced walls 24 which are joined atthe frontend by an integral top arch 24g, this element serving to maintain the spacing of thecarriage walls. With reference to the right-hand side of the machine as viewed from the front, Figure shows a hanger 25 passing through the upper portion of the corresponding carriage ,24, the hanger being pivotally mounted by means of an apertured ear 25b upon a pin 26 passing crosswise through the hanger and the carriage walls. The front end of the hanger forms a support for the top of the back gauge IS, the connection with the same being made by passing a bolt 25c upward through the hanger and a longitudinal slot l6a in the said top,.the bolt receiving a,

securing nut 25d. The hanger has a drop 25c where it emerges from the carriage 24, continuing with arearward portion 25f. The suspension of the hanger 25 asjust described permits it to have a pivotal or rocking motion in respect to the carriage, and this motion can be adjustably limited by a set screw 257 applied to the bottom of the hanger portion 25c and adapted to stop on an extension 24h of the carriage. Also, a spring 2510 is connected between the hanger portion 25] and the bottom plate 24d to draw the rear portion of the hanger downwardly.

In relation to the wall Ma of the'machine, the. parts .just described are duplicated, except that -the corresponding or left-hand end, of the back gauge |6 is not supported directly on the hanger 25a, but on an arm 21, which is horizontally slotted at 21a along its greater course. The forward portion of the hanger 250, has a pair of laterally projecting bolts 21b which pass at spaced points through the slot 21a, receiving securing nuts 28 on the inner side of the arm and spacers 2 8aon the 'outsidethereof, The latter has a side lug 2.10 at the front, such lug being adapted to receive the extended top of the corresponding end of the back gauge l6 which is vertically perforated for the passage of a bolt 21 and the application of a securing nut 2141 to thesame.

Thus, by loosening, the nuts 21d, 28 and 25d, it is possible to slide the arm 21 forth and back to locate the corresponding end of the back gauge accordingly, the slotlBa in the right-hand end of the gauge making allowance for the arcuate variation of the left-hand end thereof.

ydirectly in the path of the work sheet.

the latter has been set and the ram I? caused to It will now be seen that with the normal position of the back gauge I6 as indicated by full lines in Figures 1, 4 and 5, the operation of the hand wheel I! in one or the other direction will move the two carriages 24 forward or rearward and so carry the gauge to the desired position, the gauge position referred to being for a square out. However, in case the cut is to be on a bias, the hand wheel I1 is rotated in a direction to carry the gauge l6 back a considerable distance, this position being represented by the carriage 24 in Figure 4a. How-ever, where the actual position of the gauge relative to the carriage would in such event be as shown in Figure 4, the loosening of the nuts 21d, 28 and 25d, and the forward for the particular bias, the nuts then being retightened, will place the assembly as indicated in Figure 4a and represented at the other side of the machine by the dotted lines in Figure 5. b

The operation just described has left the gauge in the original back position at the right-hand side of the machine, but swung it to the forward position of Figure 4a at the left hand side of the by the manipulation of the hand wheel l1,to.

the desired depth. Also, it is understood that the above bias adjustment is made only in one' direction, since it is only necessary to turn the work sheet over if a bias cut in the opposite direction is wanted.

It is seen from Figures 4 and 5 that the back 2 gauge I6 is positioned with its top somewhat above the level of the bed l0, so as'to present its front When descend for the cut, the stress imposed upon the rear portionof the sheet causes the same to bear against the gauge and jam or buckle to a greater or less extent. This is a hardship which the conventional back gauge, which is rigidly mounted,

downward stress, so that no strain or hardship is imposed on the gauge or the sheet, and the attendant friction, wearof the gauge and noise are eliminated.

Where the gauge 16 has been swung forward at one end, such as for a bias cut, a tendency may exist to overbalance the hangers in a forward direction. To counteract such a tendency, I have provided a compensating angle bar 29 at the rear, extending the top of the same endwise to overlie the rear portions 25 of the hangers. The, extensions of the bar are perforated to receiveslide bolts 25h passed upwardly through vertical slots 25g made in the rear portions 25 of the hangers, securing nuts 251' being provided for the bolts. It is seen that in case of the overbalance referred to, the angle bar 29 can be adjusted accordingly to correct the condition.

While any type of indicator may be employed in connection with the hand wheel I! as a guide for setting the back gauge the desired distance, I prefer to employ the geared indicator shown in Figure 1 and more clearly in Figures 3 and 3a. The assembly shows the hand wheel [1 to be directly mounted on the shaft 18, the latter also receiving a drum dial 35 marked with peripheral graduations 35a; in 64ths from zero to one inch, and having an enlargement 35b cut with notches numbered as the graduations. The dial has a hub 350 which is secured to the shaft I8 by means of a split bushing 35d and a set screw 356. The shaft I8 also carries a spur pinion 36 which meshes with a gear 3'! whose spindle 31a is journaled in a bracket 38 bolted at 38a to the wall [4. The bracket 38 is of arched form whereby to permit the drum dial 39 to be freely mounted on the shaft l8 in the space within the bracket. The dial 39 is peripherally calibrated at 39cpreferably in inches-and carries a gear 39b which is in mesh with a pinion 311) carried by the gear spindle 370.. As indicated more clearly in Figure 3a, the toothed part 35b of the drum dial 35 receives a detent 40 pivoted at 4| to the bracket 38 and urged into engagement with the said toothed portion by a spring 42. The detent has a projecting arm 400. which may be swung to the left when it is desired to release the dial 35 for rotation. Thus, when this is done, the hand wheel I! may be turned rapidly inorder to move the gauge to approximately the point at which it is to be set, at which time the arm 49a of the detent is released, so that the further manipulation of the hand wheel is step by step by the tripping of the detent in the notches of the dial portion 35b. While this is done, it is noted that the considerable gear reduction to the dial 39 causes the same to turn very slowly. With this dial calibrated in inches from zero to 18 inches the gear reduction is such that each turn of the dial 35 moves the dial 39 over one inch. In relation to an origin mark 43 the general movement of the control is read on the dial 39 while the final or close one is read on the dial 755. It is preferable that the gauge be so geared that one turn of the hand wheel I! will cause a depth movement of one inch on the part of the gauge. To secure this, the ratio of the gears'29 and 2| is 1 to 2, giving the shaft 22 twice the speed of the shaft 18. However, the screw portion of the shaft 22 secures a reversal or reduction of the same ratio, so that the travel of the gauge is equal in inches to the revolutions of the hand wheel 11.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have developed a back gauge mechanism which is built along simple mechanical lines and in the form of a unit which may be applicable with facility to squaring shears of conventional design. Further, the novel gauge mechanism replaces an unhandy and difficult method of adjusting, reading and setting the back gauge, and places the control within the immediate reach of the operator. Further, the novel gauge departs from the standard fixed type to yield and relieve hardships and wear imposed by the action of the shear on the work sheet, without loss of accuracy or adjustment. Moreover, the location of the gauge mechanism with its major units immediately alongside the walls of the machine provides an unlimited amount of room between such units for the feed of the work sheet under or over the gauge bar in a rear direction as far as desired without encountering any obstacle, making it easier to handle a long sheet through the machine than on the floor. While the gauge is properly balanced, the stop screws 25y thereof prevent the gauge bar from rising above the zone of the work sheet, so that the gauge bar is always in a position to assume its departing travel in a downward di rection as soon as the cutting operation occurs. Finally, the gauge mechanism is of a rugged and durable design, and of a nature to be inexpensively manufactured.

I claim:

1. In a squaring shear, a back gauge, a frontal shaft forming a control therefor, companion screws geared to and extending rearwardly of the shaft, traveling supports threaded on the screws, and hangers suspended from horizontal pivots in the supports, the hangers extending horizontally forward and the gauge being attached to the frontal portions of the hangers.

2. The structure of claim 1, the hangers bemg positioned relative to the end portions of the gauge, an adjustable forward extension for one of the hangers to swing the gauge to an angular position suitable for a bias cut on the work, and a counterbalancing element applied to the rear portions of the hangers to compensate for overbalancing tendencies in the frontal zone of the extended hanger.

3. The structure of claim 1, the hangers being positioned relative to the end portions of the gauge, an adjustable forward extension for one of the hangers to swing the gauge to an angular position suitable for a bias cut on the work, and a counterbalancing element applied to the rear portions of the hangers to compensate for overbalancing tendencies in the frontal zone of the extended hanger, said counterbalancing element being a bar attached with its ends adjustable forth and back along said rear hanger portions.

4. In a squaring shear having stationary means and a shear head movable relative thereto; a support carried by said stationary means and adjustable to positions between the front and rear, means for effecting the adjustment of the support, a back gauge carried by the latter at the height of the work, said gauge being fixed against rearward movement in a horizontal plane relative to the support when the latter has been adjusted to a desired position, and said gauge being yieldable in a downward and rearward direction upon pressure thereon of the work during the shearing operation.

5. The structure of claim 4, and means adjustably limiting said downward and rearward movement of said gauge.

6. The structure of claim 4, and said movement of said gauge being through a rearwardly departing arc.

ROBERT L. BROWNLEE. 

